#Review - Muse by Brittany Cavallaro #YA #Historical #Fantasy

Series: Muse # 1
Format: Hardcover, 352 pages
Release Date: February 2, 2021
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Historical

American Royals meets The Winner’s Curse in the first book of a new YA duology from New York Times bestselling author Brittany Cavallaro, set in an alternate history American monarchy where a girl grapples for control of her own life in the middle of a looming war.

The year is 1893, and war is brewing in the First American Kingdom. But Claire Emerson has a bigger problem. While her father prepares to reveal the mighty weapon he’s created to showcase the might of their province, St. Cloud, in the World’s Fair, Claire is crafting a plan to escape.

Claire’s father is a sought-after inventor, but he believes his genius is a gift, granted to him by his daughter’s touch. He’s kept Claire under his control for years. As St. Cloud prepares for war, Claire plans to claim her life for herself, even as her best friend, Beatrix, tries to convince her to stay and help with the growing resistance movement that wants to see a woman on the throne. At any cost.

When her father’s weapon fails to fire on the fair’s opening day, Claire is taken captive by Governor Remy Duchamp, St. Cloud’s young, untried ruler. Remy believes that Claire’s touch bestows graces he’s never had, and with his governing power weakening and many political rivals planning his demise, Claire might be his only and best ally. But the last thing that Claire has ever wanted is to be someone else’s muse. Still, affections can change as quickly as the winds of war. And Claire has a choice to make: Will she quietly remake her world from the shadows—or bring it down in flames?

 

 

American Royals meets The Winner’s Curse in the first book of bestselling author Brittany Cavallaro’s new duology, set in an alternate history American monarchy where a girl grapples for control of her own life in the middle of a looming war. In 1782, after winning the war for Independence, George Washington makes the decision to become a King thus begins the First American Kingdom. It is also decreed that the country will be separated into provinces, each led by a Governor selected from Washington's trusted lieutenants. 

The decree creates Alta California (West Coast), Nuevo Mexico (South), Duchies of West and East Florida, Livingston-Monroe made up of the heartland, St. Cloud which encapsulates the Mississippi River, and King of New Columbia which encapsulates the entire Eastern seaboard except Florida. Flash forward to the year 1893, where we find Claire Emerson, daughter of a mad inventor named Jeremiah Emerson. Jeremiah has been paid to create a weapon that will show the power of St. Cloud and avoid a conflict with Livingston-Monroe which has been making aggressive moves.

To make things even more interesting, the story takes place during the long delayed 1893 World’s Fair which is supposed to show the world what St. Cloud is capable of. Claire’s father believes his genius is a gift granted to him by his daughter’s touch. He’s kept Claire under his control for years, but Claire has made plans to escape even if it means marrying someone she has no love for. Even as her best friend, Beatrix Lovell, a brilliant glider-inventor, tries to convince her to stay and help with the growing resistance movement that wants to see a woman on the throne, Claire doesn’t want to be a pawn in anyone’s game.

After Jeremiah’s gun called Barrage fires after Claire touches it, she becomes what she hoped not to become. A pawn. Remy Duchamp, the young Governor of St. Cloud, insists that Claire stay at the governor’s mansion until he can figure out what makes her tick. Claire is an observer and an idealist who ends up having to navigate a treacherous road which includes a complex political rivalry between Remy, a malicious general who has made unwanted advances towards Claire, Nikolas Tesla who has something up his own sleeve, and a group of rebel women (Daughters of the American Crown) who are tired of having no say in what happens in their country. Claire will have to pick a side as she changes the First Kingdom of America forever.

Claire is a girl who you should root for to make her own choices and not be led by a string to do other people’s bidding. Even though her friend Beatrix means well, she’s got an ulterior motive which puts the focus on Claire. Claire has no idea how powerful she really is until she ends up right in the middle of a dangerous situation. Claire was taught calculus and geometry by her mother. Subjects that women aren’t allowed to be taught. Claire’s relationship with Remy is a curious one which I hope to see grow. Tesla is a really interesting character, especially when it comes for his love for cats, and his weapons he creates.

Since this is a duology, we won’t have to wait 3 years until we find out what happens to Claire and if she makes the right choices for herself, while keeping herself sane. I’m happy to see actual historical characters appear in this book.

 

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